Photo: Sitting Bull Wore a Crucifix

cantuar.blogspot.com ^ | Friday, April 08, 2011 | Taylor Marshall

[GonzoII]

Sitting Bull (sitting) wearing his crucifix

Not long ago, I was speaking with Father Phil Wolfe about the evangelization of the Flathead Indians in northwest America. He stood up up from his desk and went to one of his many bookshelves and pulled down a book. He opened it and set it in front of me with a page open to a photo.

"Who's that?"

I had seen the photo several times since my youth. It's in every student's US History book. "That's Sitting Bull," I said.

"Have you ever seen this photo before?" he asked.

"Yes, of course."

Father said, "Really. Look closer. Have you ever seen the non-cropped version of the Sitting Bull?"

I took another look. I couldn't believe it. Sitting Bull was wearing a crucifix!

That's correct. Sitting Bull wore a crucifix and apparently was baptized into the Catholic Faith by Father De Smet of the Jesuits. Here's one account from a biography on General Custer:

It was stated at one time that Sitting Bull, while hating the white Americans and disdaining to speak their language; was yet very fond of the French Canadians, that he talked French, and that he had been converted to Christianity by a French Jesuit, named Father De Smet. How true this may be is uncertain, but probably there is some foundation for it. The French Jesuits have always been noted for their wonderful success in winning the affections of the Indians, as well as for the transitory nature of their conversions, and it is very possible that Father De Smet may have not only baptized Sitting Bull at some time, but induced him and his braves to attend mass, as performed by himself in the wilderness. The benefits of the conversion seem however to have been only skin deep, as far as preventing cruelty in war is concerned. (Whittaker, A Complete Life of General Custer, Volume 2, 535).

I think the photo reveals that this story is more than a legend. Sitting Bull wore the emblem of the Crucified Son of God from his neck. It's a pity that the image is usually cropped  in magazines and textbooks so as to hide the crucifix. This just reveals that American political correctness has led to the revision of history. The photo has been cropped for so long that virtually no one knows that Sitting Bull wore a crucifix!

So pray for the repose of the soul of Thathánka Iyotake (Sitting Bull), who died on Dec 15, 1890.

[GonzoII]

[redgolum]

This is news?

Maybe to those who didn’t grow up where I did I guess.

Black Elk Speaks mentions this. Though the arguement can be made that Sitting Bull was not a “real Catholic” till later in life.

[DannyTN]

I read that many of the North American Tribes embraced Christianity responding, “It’s easy for us to believe in your Jesus, because we already believe in your God.”

[Vendome]

I had heard this before but never noticed the crucifix before.

Thanks.

[IrishCatholic]

Thank you. I have never seen an uncropped photo of this before.
Sometimes the corruption becomes evident after years in hiding.
Great post.

[null and void]

This is news?

It is to me.

[Fido969]

Cool!

[Retired Greyhound]

Plenty of Native Americans wore crosses, but probably not by choice. There were a lot of forced conversions.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

It has been said that part of the reason the (primarily protestant) American settlers were so harsh towards the Indians was because the Indians would only accept the gospel from the “black robes.” Many of the “pagan” Indians who were massacred by settlers were actually baptized Catholics.

[apocalypto]

I had seen only the cropped picture. Maybe it was because of the crucifix..

[NWFLConservative]

Geronimo too embraced Christianity later in life and was eventually baptized. He was imprisoned here in town at FT. Pickens for many years. I have seen his cell many times, it is rather sobering. One of his wives died here and is buried in an unmarked grave on the grounds of FT. Pickens. The US Army did eventually move the families of many of the Apaches imprisoned there so they could be reunited. They were actually treated very well while here.

Eventually the US Army moved all the Apaches and their imprisoned at Pickens to FT Sill, OK when an outbreak of yellow fever threatened to kill all of them. Gernonimo lived there until his death.

[driftdiver]

I never heard this before, thanks.

[Stonewall Jackson]

A number of the Northern Cheyenne, Sioux, and Crow ended up embracing the Menonite sect. Northern Cheyenne tribal historian, John Stands in Timber, talks a great deal about this in his book, Cheyenne Memories.

[Lorica]

It has been said that part of the reason the (primarily protestant) American settlers were so harsh towards the Indians was because the Indians would only accept the gospel from the “black robes.” Many of the “pagan” Indians who were massacred by settlers were actually baptized Catholics.

That is a very sobering line of thought I've not read before. Thanks for the post.

[FortWorthPatriot]

"Sitting Bull (sitting)"

LOL - well, of course!

[ZULU]

All the photos I saw of this shot of him were cropped to remove the crucifix. TYpical of the politically correct crowd, I guess.

He deserved better than he got.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Here's the cropped version.

[dfwgator]

"Hast du gesehen in deine Leben?"

[mad_as_he$$]

Samrt guy and ahead of his time:

“I feel that my country has gotten a bad name, and I want it to have a good name; it used to have a good name; and I sit sometimes and wonder who it is that has given it a bad name.”
Sitting Bull

[hinckley buzzard]

Sitting Bull was a mystic who was known to go on vision quests and honor other native american rituals. Whether he was baptized or not, it made precious little difference in his life.